Welcome to Cyclometer, a monthly newsletter to keep cyclists informed about cycling issues and programs in the City of Toronto.
CONTENTS:
1) New Bike Lanes update: Royal York opening and more!
A. The installation of the Royal York Road bike lanes from Delroy Drive to Mimico Creek has been completed.
Come join the City's cycling staff celebrate the opening of this new bike lane on Tuesday, July 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. on the east side of Royal York Road, at Castlebar Road. Free juice and snacks will be provided.
The installation of the Royal York bike lane brings the total length of bike lanes in Toronto to 80.1 kilometres. The Bike Plan call for the installation of nearly 500 kilometres of bike lanes by 2012 - and this new bike lane brings us one step closer to achieving our goal.
B. Next week the installation of bike lanes on Eastern Avenue between Logan Avenue and Leslie Street will begin, weather permitting.
On June 27, Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommended that at its meeting on July 15, and 16, City Council Approve the following bike lanes:
- Contra-flow bike lane on Stanley Avenue from Royal York Road to Superior Avenue
- Bike lanes on Royal York Road from Cavell to Manitoba Street
- Bike lanes on Simcoe Street/Lower Simcoe Street from Queens Quay West to Front Street West
- Bike lanes on Birchmount Road from Kingston Road to St. Clair Avenue East
2) Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee: next meeting
The next meeting is July 14, at 7 p.m., Committee Room 3 at City Hall.
The Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee (TCAC) Agenda
- Toronto Police Service issues
(7 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
1(a). Bikes and Wheel Sport Safety Campaign update
1(b). The Issue of 'Dooring'
1(c). The Issue of Motorists Parking in Bike Lanes
- Toronto Bicycling Network Advocacy Committee - Implementation of the Toronto Bike Plan by 2012 and 2008-2012 Plan for Parks, Watercourse, Hydro and Rail Corridor Trails
(8 p.m. to 8:10 p.m.)
- Listing of Planned Trail Installations for 2008
(8:10 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.)
- Use of Bicycle User Groups (BUGS) to promote City Cycling events and distribute Toronto Cycling maps
(8:20 p.m. to 8:25 p.m.)
- Toronto Bike Plan update
(8:25 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
- Celebrating the installation of Bike Lanes
(8:30 p.m. to 8:35 p.m.)
- iTRANS Consulting Inc. - Proposed East-West Collector Road Class Environmental Assessment Study
(8:35 p.m. to 8:40 p.m)
3) Don Mills Road Light Rail Transit Public Consultation
Public consultation is an important part of this study. Two series of public Open Houses will take place during this study process. Our first series of Open Houses has showcased the light rail transit route, alternative design concepts, and the preliminary identification of the issues. Please join us at the following event:
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Westwood Middle School, gymnasium
994 Carlaw Avenue
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
A presentation and Question/Answer session will start at 7 p.m.
Your input is important to us!
Need more information? Please contact us to be placed on the project mailing list (email or regular mail) for future updates.
Public Consultation Unit
City of Toronto
Metro Hall, 19th floor
55 John Street
Toronto, ON M5V 3C6
Tel: 416-392-4331
Fax: 416-392-2974
TTY: 416-397-0831
Email: donmillstransitea@toronto.ca
Website: Don Mills Road Light Rail Transit Class Environmental Assessment
4) Kids + Bikes = The Kids CAN-BIKE Camp
The Kids CAN-BIKE Camp is back on the road for the third year in a row thanks to generous sponsors! The camp is into its second week and everyone is having a great time. Community agencies enrol 80 kids from different parts of the city who will receive a bicycle, a helmet, a lock, a backpack, a reflective safety sash and a week of fun-filled cycling experience. Under the guidance of our cycling experts, the kids will learn how to safely ride in their neighbourhoods and go on a fun Bike Hike at the end of their week at camp.
We wish to thank our sponsors/partners: Province of Ontario - Ministry of Health Promotions, Ontario Cycling Association, Canadian Tire Foundation for Families, Mountain Equipment Coop, Children's Aid Foundation, Dr. Tom Pashby Sports Fund, Butterfield & Robinson, Norco Performance Bicycles, High Park Bicycle Club, Black's is Photography and Toronto Emergency Medical Services And Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation.
We also want to thank the members of the Bicycle Safety Partnership: Moss Park Cadet program, Community Resources Connection Toronto, Council Fire, Toronto Children's Aid Society, Centre 55, Albion Boys and Girls Club, Ralph Thornton TC and Eastview Boys and Girls Club.
This program is coordinated through the City of Toronto's Transportation Services, Pedestrian and Cycling Infrastructure Unit.
More about the camp.
5) Upcoming CAN-BIKE Courses
For more details, check out our CAN-BIKE page. Register in any CAN-BIKE course.
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 1
Sunday, July 13, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - L'Amoreaux
Sunday, July 20, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Centennial
Sunday, July 20, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Centennial
Thursday, July 24, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. - Trinity Bellwoods
CAN-BIKE Adult Learn to Ride 2
Sunday, July 13, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. - L'Amoreaux
Saturday, July 26, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Trinity Bellwoods
Saturday, July 26, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Trinity Bellwoods
Kids CAN-BIKE
Saturday, July 12, Saturday, July 19, Saturday, July 26
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - High Park
Saturday, July 12, Saturday, July 19, Saturday, July 26
1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - High Park
CAN-BIKE 2
Saturday, July 12, Sunday, July 13, Saturday, July 19
10 p.m. - 5 p.m. - Lamport Stadium
6) Youth Cycling & Racing Skills Camp at Cenntenial Park in Etobicoke
Midweek Cycling Club has been running this camp since May but new participants are welcome.
Who is this program for: Youth aged 9 to 14, boys and girls at all levels of physical fitness.
- held every Wednesday evening at Centennial Park's ski hill
- teaches boys and girls cycling skills in a fun setting
- they can start any time and it is pay as you go
Run by Midweek Cycling Club and sanctioned by the Ontario Cycling Association, the camp teaches: Cycling skills, safety, bike maintenance, and bike racing skills via grass and gravel road racing. This program is built upon Midweek's successful adult learn-to-race program plus programs run by other Canadian cycling organizations.
Type of bike: Any type of bike. It can be a bmx, mountain, coaster, road, cyclo-cross or hybrid.
Mandatory equipment: CSA approved helmet is mandatory and a good pair of running shoes.
Recommended equipment: It is recommend participants have cycling gloves, a rain jacket, a bike multi-tool and tire-levers. The gloves are to protect their hands when they fall and the bike tools and tire levers are for the maintenance side of the clinic.
When: Every Wednesday to July 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. If weather looks bad check www.midweekclub.ca for special notices. Need not attend all sessions; come as often as you can.
Where: Ski Hill area of Centennial Park, Etobicoke (Toronto)
Pay as you go: $64 base fee plus $5/week (tax receipt supplied) Fees include special kids membership into Midweek Cycling Club and an O.C.A. Citizen Permit (insurance).
Registration: At any session. Parent or guardian is required to attend first session.
7) Meals on Wheels volunteers needed
West Toronto Support for Seniors needs Meals on Wheels volunteers to ride hot meals to seniors in the Bloor/Lansdowne neighbourhood.
Rising cost of gas has resulted in fewer volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels. West Toronto Support for Seniors is launching a Meals on 2Wheelers campaign in order to continue providing our program.
Cyclists must be available to deliver meals any day between Monday to Friday 10:30 and 12:00. Routes take approximately 45 minutes to complete and can be adjusted based on skill and fitness level.
Meals on 2Wheelers require:
- a bike
- trailer can be provided
Get in shape and do something great!
In order to launch our program Meals on Wheels requires equipment donations such as:
- bike
- trailers
- baskets
- racks
- kickstands
- bells
- helmets
- locks
West Toronto Support for Seniors is located at 80 Ward St.
Contact: Joanne, jalfonsi@wtss.org, 416-653-3535 ext.247
8) Bike Train to Niagara update
The Bike Train schedule officially kicked off June 27, and the season is now well underway. The Bike Train allows Toronto cyclists easy access to the excellent bicycling trails and accessible sights of the Niagara Region. With departures taking place most weekends through until the end of September, there's never been an easier or more environmentally friendly way to see the Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake, catch a Shaw festival production or visit a local winery. Check out the schedule and book your Bike Train getaway today!
9) GO-by-Bike to Ajax update
Sundays this summer, June-July-August, the Town of Ajax and GO Transit will invite cyclists from across the GTA - and their bikes - to take the GO Train to the greatest 15k waterfront bike ride ever - yes ever!
Route
From the Ajax GO station, the 15k ride follows the Trans Canada Trail south along Duffins Creek to the Ajax Waterfront.
The Waterfront Trail then leads cyclists west to Pickering's Frenchman's Bay andPetticoat Creek, then Scarborough's Rouge Park.
Everyone gets back on the GO Train at the Rouge Hill GO station.
Avid cyclists can add 15k to their bike ride by keeping on the Waterfront Trail west along Lake Ontario, to head north up the Highland Creek Bike Path that ends at the Guildwood GO station.
Thirty bikes per train is the limit but that has not been an issue so far. Bikes are free, but no trailers are permitted.
10) Crothers Woods (Don Valley) trail maintenance update
A. New Intermediate Singletrack in Crothers Woods now open
Parks, Forestry and Recreation's Sustainable Trails Initiative is pleased to announce that a new section of multi-use intermediate singletrack in Crothers Woods, near the Loblaws trailhead in the Don Valley, is now open. In total, 750 m of new sustainable track was built, and 800 m of degraded and eroded trail closed and restored. Please respect all new trail closures and please send us any comments or feedback you may have about the new trail.
B. Ongoing Intermediate Singletrack construction in Crothers Woods
Please note that trail construction and forest understory restoration as outlined in the Crothers Woods Trail Management Strategy will be continuing in Crothers Woods on July 7 until August 1. Temporary fencing will be installed to prevent access into the area where work is being done. Please respect all closed areas as alternative routes will be available for park users.
If you would like to help volunteer with plant rescues, tree root protection, trail closures, trail restoration and trail construction or to learn more about the City of Toronto's Sustainable Trails Initiatives please email us at trails@toronto.ca or call 426-338-DIRT (3478) for more details.
11) Toronto Bikes. Why don't you?
Torontonians will be confronted with that very question as transit shelter and recycling bin ads hit City streets this month. The campaign posters are scheduled to appear in 150 transit shelters and 180 recycling bins from July 21 to August 17.
While cycling infrastructure is a vital component of sustainable cities, people's attitudes must also change in order for cycling to be considered a practical and enjoyable mode of transportation.
This campaign is intended to inspire cyclists and non-cyclists alike by demonstrating that cycling is a growing trend and that people all around them are using bicycles as a primary mode of transportation. These people are saving time, money, and the environment. The ads encourage non-cyclists to consider why they aren't riding and directs them to the City's website for more information on how to start.
The poster is an image of a red banana seat bike with the text "Toronto Bikes" at the top and "Why don't you?" at the bottom.
12) Ahead in the Bike Lane:
- Don Mills Light Rail Consultation, July 10, 994 Carlaw Ave, 6-9 p.m.
- TCAC meeting - July 14 at 7 p.m., Committee Room 3, City Hall
- Royal York Bike Lane opening - Tuesday, July 15, at Castlebar from 4-6 p.m.
The City has a vision for cycling in Toronto and wants you involved in making it happen. Cyclometer is a subscription service of the City of Toronto.
The first issue of Cyclometer went out on November 24, 1989.
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